NYPD detective facing scrutiny for DWI arrests

On behalf of Braunfotel & Frendel LLC on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

A New York City detective is accused of making dozens of bogus DWI arrests in the Bronx to earn extra overtime pay. Detective Darryl Schwartz has already been sued three times and faces a fourth suit, according to the New York Daily News.

The newspaper reports the city settled one of the lawsuits for $85,000 and personnel records show Schwartz has a history of misconduct dating back over a decade without facing any discipline from the NYPD.

Excessive OT earnings reported

The Gothamist reports Schwartz reportedly made more than $173,000 in overtime between 2015 and 2018, which is more than what 97% of other officers earned during the same period. Half of the DWI cases involving the detective during that time ended in acquittals, lesser pleas or dismissals.

Internal Affairs file lists multiple citations

The Bronx district attorney avoided releasing Schwartz’s Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) file until 2018 to defense attorneys. The documents reveal a long history of questionable behavior after joining the force in 2003:

In 2009 and 2010, filing improper paperwork for drug seizures in Manhattan

In 2012, he was docked three vacation days for failing to perform assignments related to his own investigations

In 2013, he was sent back to weapons training after accidentally firing his gun

In 2015, the Civilian Complaint Review Board confirmed claims he had wrongfully frisked two people

In 2016, Schwartz was involved in an on-duty crash found to be his fault, but was not disciplined

Also, in 2016, he was docked 10 vacation days after failing to voucher a prisoner’s wallet containing $1,300 properly

Detective placed on desk duty

Schwartz was placed on IAB monitoring in 2017 after failing to appear in court for the fourth time, and in March of this year his badge and gun were taken away, and he was placed on desk duty after he and another officer allegedly left a weapon in the back of a patrol car.

More challenges over his DWI arrests are expected. If you have been arrested and charged with DWI, consult an experienced defense attorney here in New York to see that your rights are protected and that officers had a legitimate reason for pulling you over, and that they correctly performed tests designed to detect whether you were drinking.

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